Probe the Limits of Knowledge with Introduction to Philosophy

Philosophy places life’s most difficult questions front and center. What is true, and how do we know? How should we live? What kind of society is best for us all? If you want an opportunity to grapple with these sorts of questions and examine your own beliefs in the process, consider enrolling in PHI 100 – Introduction to Philosophy this spring semester.

Stephen Marrone, PVCC associate professor of philosophy and the course instructor, stresses that philosophy is a set of tools to be exercised. “It’s a life skill,” he said, “a thing that can make people’s lives more comprehensible.” Marrone knows how abstract philosophy can get and strives to make the subject’s practical applications apparent. Some of the timely topics tackled in his class include climate change, internet censorship, and flat earth conspiracy theories. 

Morgan Wile, a student currently taking the course, appreciates the chance the course gives her to follow her curiosity. “It’s a class that allows you to think freely and explore different ideas without being limited,” she said. “We’re given a lot of options to explore.”

Marrone encourages his students not to abide by what he teaches and to bravely voice their dissent. “Don’t be afraid to challenge the person that’s giving you instruction,” he said. “Philosophy is unlike other fields in that if you’re doing it well, you’re in a position to question the person that’s giving instruction. All of us are in a position to answer these questions for ourselves. Have the confidence to ask questions that are not obedient, that are not just accepting what’s presented to you, because there are no definitive answers to what we teach in philosophy. I like to say there are lots of wrong answers, but there are also lots of right answers.”

Introduction to Philosophy will be taught as an online scheduled-time class over Zoom. Its remote meeting times are Monday and Wednesday evenings from 5:30-6:45 p.m.